In the first part of this interview, Carlos Sánchez Berzaín, director of the Inter-American Institute for Democracy (IID) and former Bolivian Defense minister, provided an assessment that reinforces the hemispheric debate on security and democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Sánchez Berzaín revealed how Venezuela went from being a failed state to becoming the operational epicenter of a continental…
Browsing: Spotlight Interviews
Venezuela: Anatomy of a Mafia State — Part I
Venezuela is facing a crisis. What began as a failed state under the Nicolás Maduro regime has metastasized into a functional criminal machine that threatens regional stability. Such is the assessment of the transformation and its geostrategic implications provided by Carlos Sánchez Berzaín, director of the Inter-American Institute for Democracy (IID) and former Bolivian Defense minister, in an exclusive interview…
China’s Expanding Footprint in Latin America: Hidden Strengths and Emerging Risks — PART I
In this in-depth interview with Diálogo, Ryan C. Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), discusses how China’s engagement with Latin America has evolved from a seemingly benign economic partnership into a complex web of strategic, political, and security entanglements. Over two decades after Beijing’s first major push into the region, China’s influence now…
The Venezuelan regime’s Criminal Architecture: Drug Trafficking, Foreign Alliances, and Institutional Collapse — Part II
In the first part of this interview, Luis Fleischman, an expert in international relations, sociology professor at Palm Beach State College, and founding co-chair of the Palm Beach Center for Democracy, revealed the criminal roots that sustain the Nicolás Maduro regime and its close collaboration with armed groups and illicit structures operating inside and outside Venezuela. In this second part,…
The Venezuelan Regime’s Criminal Architecture: Drug Trafficking, Foreign Alliances, and Institutional Collapse —Part I
In this exclusive interview with Diálogo, Luis Fleischman, an expert in international relations, sociology professor at Palm Beach State College, and founding co-chair of the Palm Beach Center for Democracy, reveals the complex and murky criminal architecture that sustains the Nicolás Maduro regime. With a highly detailed perspective, Fleischman describes how Venezuela went from being an oil power to becoming…
Commitment and Sacrifice: The Salvadoran Naval Infantry on Counternarcotics, Cyber Threats, and Deepening US Ties
Captain Érick Othmaro Granados Morán is a highly decorated officer with extensive experience in the Salvadoran Armed Forces. After serving as the commander of the La Unión Naval Base, he assumed command of the Salvadoran Naval Infantry. His career reflects a deep commitment to national defense, which is currently highlighted by the Salvadoran Navy’s record-breaking counternarcotics achievements. Under his command,…
Suriname Armed Forces: Education as the Foundation of Readiness
Brigadier General Werner Kioe A Sen has led the Suriname Armed Forces (SAF) since late 2022. As only the second officer in SAF history to attain the rank of Brigadier General, he has successfully established the force as a reliable partner in regional security during his tenure. Brig. Gen. Kioe A Sen advocates for education as the foundation of military…
Beyond Infantry: Capt. Mota on Forging a True Amphibious Force
Captain Carlos Humberto Mota Ramírez is the officer leading the charge for the Guatemalan Armed Forces Naval Infantry Brigade, a role he assumed in 2024, after serving as the commander of the Pacific Naval Command. His mandate is not just to secure the nation’s critical coasts, but to execute a fundamental doctrinal transformation, turning a conventional unit into a true…
Paraguay’s Strategic Vision: Modernizing the Armed Forces to Fight Transnational Threats
Army General César Augusto Moreno Landaira, commander of the Paraguayan Military Forces, assumed the nation’s highest military leadership post in late 2023. As a seasoned career officer, he has been tasked with spearheading the essential modernization and professionalization of Paraguay’s armed services amid a dynamic and complex regional security environment. Diálogo had the opportunity to speak with Gen. Moreno during…
Beyond Borders: Commander Kon Becerra on Technology, Interoperability, and Regional Security
Colonel (Capitán de Navío) Luis Kon Becerra, commander of the Ecuadorian Marine Corps, is a highly experienced officer whose career has been marked by strategic influence both domestically and abroad. His previous assignments include crucial diplomatic service as the Naval Attaché in Santiago, Chile, and a significant role in the military doctrine as the former director of the Ecuadorian Naval…
Uruguay’s Global Role: From Peacekeeping to Partnership in the Western Hemisphere
Air Force General Rodolfo Daniel Pereyra Martínez is the distinguished chief of Defense Staff (ESMADE) of Uruguay. A celebrated military aviator with 2,500 flight hours and a career marked by technical and academic excellence, including multiple academic awards from the U.S. Department of Defense, Gen. Pereyra has consistently prioritized the modernization of capabilities and the development of joint doctrine. Diálogo…
The Netherlands Marine Corps on the Front Lines of Caribbean Security
Brigadier General Ivo Moerman, commandant of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, has built a distinguished career on a foundation of operational experience, beginning with his first assignment as a platoon commander in Curaçao. With more than 30 years of service, this early exposure to the region’s unique security landscape, combined with a background in mechanical engineering and a wide range…